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Elbasan police in action to punish road code breakers

Elbasan Road Police is conducting this Friday an action to punish Road Code violator on the Elbasan-Metalurgji road segment. Local media reported that the action is taking place to highlight violations of the Highway Code. This action is led by the head of the Elbasan Road Police service. /abcnews.al […] …

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Arrested for electoral crime/ Former head of the fire department in Cerrik is expected to testify

The former head of the fire department in Cerrik, Artion Toçi, and 4 other people, his subordinates, were put in handcuffs on Thursday. ABC News reporter Edisona Skenderi reported that Toçi is accused of exercising illegal influence and electoral crime after influencing the employee of the tax office in the …

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Sterilization concession/ 4 persons that have ‘obligation to appear’ before court assume to SPAK

On Friday morning, in the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK), the persons who have the security measure “obligation to appear”, in connection with the investigations on the sterilization of surgical equipment, were presented. Arben Gjata, Pertef Mersini, Genc Burazeri and Naile Ajazi were seen outside SPAK premises. GjKKO has set the …

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Solar pannels being installed on Tirana schools

After “Bajram Curri”, “Ismail Qemali” and “Congress of Manastir” schools, work has also started in two other schools to install the photovoltaic plant, thanks to the “Sunny School” project. Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj informrd that work is being done to install the photovoltaic plant in the “Gustav Meyer” and …

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Balla and Kushi present the security package in schools

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Taulant Balla, and the Minister of Education, Evis Kushi, presented this Friday the new security package in schools. It will be the local police and the municipalities who will determine the security perimeter of 50 meters around the boundary fence of each school across the …

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Albania assume the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the second time  

Albania assume the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the second time. The Foreign Minister, during her speech, said that taking over the Presidency comes at a difficult moment when the world is facing a series of serious crises. “The Presidency of the Security Council gives us the opportunity …

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Rama reacts after Varhelyi’s statement: Our commissioner who never let our region down, especially in tough time

Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted to a statement by Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi regarding EU expansion. The European Commissioner responded positively to the statements of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel during the Bled forum, describing this as long awaited news. OUR COMMISSIONER who never let our region …

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Fier, kidnapper and explosives’ possessor on trial

The Court of Fier has set the measure of “Prison arrest” for Albin Mecini, who was arrested on Wednesday with 2 bags inside which contained 2 packages of about 21.3 kilograms of artisanal explosives, assembled with mobile phones, for remote detonation. Also, from the control of the area where Albi …

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Looking to escape economic rut, Albania pins hopes on yet uncertain oil bonanza 

TIRANA, Aug. 30, 2023 – Faced with a GDP per capita falling far behind even the poorest EU members, lackluster foreign investments and a growing budget deficit that has to be financed by an ever-shrinking and aging population, Albania’s government is hoping for a miracle: a winning lottery ticket that …

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Michel’s 2030 EU enlargement goal welcomed, but also met with skepticism

TIRANA, Aug. 31. 2023 – European Council President Charles Michel has set a goal for the European Union and aspirant states to be ready for enlargement by 2030.  Speaking at a regional forum in Slovenia on Aug. 28, Michel said that it was time for those states that have been …

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Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

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BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

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Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News
NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

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Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News
Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

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Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News
Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News
The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …

News

Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News

Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News

Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …